| 7/29/99 | I got off to a real late start out of Williamstown. I decided to hit Pizza Hut's lunch buffet. Big mistake. I ate a little too much and the first leg in Massachusetts is to climb their highest mountain. It shouldn't have been that big of a deal, especially the way I handled Vermont. However, my body was a little beat up from doing consecutive high mileage days through Vermont. I have a couple of new blisters and shin splints. All of which will heal, but make life a little more challenging. I only went 9.6 miles for the day and made it before dark at the first shelter. I will just have to see how tomorrow turns out. |
| 7/30/99 | Last night I saw my first porcupine. It came right into the shelter to eat the wood. It was eating some of the spots where people sit and leave salt from their sweat. A thunderstorm rolled over in the middle of the night as well. It dropped a little rain, but had a lot of lightning. I got up and out of the shelter and made my way on the trail. I did the 4.8 miles down to Cheshire, Mass. and just kept going. My shins were giving me some problems. I have made up my mind to take another zero day at Upper Goose Pond Cabin. It's a cabin where you pay a $3 donation and you get a bunk and pancake breakfast. As the name implies it is on Upper Goose Pond. A nice swimming spot according to the northbounders. I proceeded to Dalton, Mass. and stopped for a break at Tom's House. It's another trail angel who allows camping in his backyard for free. He also has a water spigot outside for the hikers. I refilled my water bottle and was sitting on the picnic bench when he got home. It was about 2:00 and the heat was pretty bad. I was enjoying the shade when he came up and started talking. He then asked if I wanted some ice-cream. My answer was predictable, "Yes!" He came out with a small goblet of strawberry ice-cream toped with fresh strawberries and whip cream and sprinkles. It was so good that it was hard not to wolf it all down. It was topped of with a chocolate chip cookie, with huge chocolate chunks. I moved on at 3:30. I made it to the Pittsfiels Rd where the Cookie Lady lives just before dark. I literally hobbled in. My left shin has now gotten so stiff that it has made walking on this level terrain a problem. This is very upsetting for me, going so slow on such easy terrain. I should be making good time and flying through it. I need a day off to heal. The cookie Lady wasn't home but her husband was. He allows camping in their field. They own a blueberry farm. The blueberries are just starting to come in. They taste great. |
| 7/31/99 | I couldn't sleep at all last night. The mesquitos were out in full force. It was one of those times I wish I had a tent rather than a tarp. The trees weren't conducive to hanging my mesquitos netting. At least it didn't rain. I left really early and started on my 11 mile hike to Upper Goose Pond. My legs were feeling ok in the morning, but were tightening quickly by the halfway point. I passed some wild blueberry bushes that required a short break at. I found a secret to picking blueberries. You pick the big juicy ones in the shade. They are so juicy and cool that they almost taste refrigerated. I made it to Goose Pond by noon. My left ankle is slightly swollen and stiff. I popped a couple of ibuprofen and swam in the cool lake. I then sat around talking to 2 northbounders, Ma & Pa, and the caretaker Nancy. I went to take a nap at 3:30 and didn't wake up until 10:30pm. I realized that everyone had gone to bed already. So I reached into my food bag and grabbed some munchies that my sister-in-law made for me and went back to bed. |
| 8/1/99 | I took my 3rd 0-day today. My body was telling me that I really needed it. My left ankle is swollen and I can feel my shin muscles tightening up after not using them for awhile. I sat down by the pond and let my legs soak in the cool water while I read my book. About 10 thru-hikers came in for the night and it looks like it will be crowded. They are saying that they had 15 thru-hikers at a shelter last night 21 miles away. |
| 8/2/99 | After a well needed 0-day I did 21.1 miles today. My shins are still giving me some problems, but after talking to the northbounders last night they warned me of the mesquitos in the next stretch. They said if you can do it, it's worth cranking out the 21.1 to get through the worst of the mesquitos. So I did. They were pretty bad to hike through, but they would have been worse if I had to camp in the middle of them. I have passed a number of other northbounders today. It looks like I am running into the wave. I passed through a small section of land that is an Indian reservation. In it I saw 2 nice size bucks, 12pts and 10pts. Their body size looked pretty good, but a little thin. I also took a short break on a stretch of trail with raspberries. I have decided I like fresh raspberries. I just don't like the artificial flavor of raspberries. Tomorrow should be a good day too. |
| 8/3/99 | I got off a little after 8:00 and I couldn't get in the hiking grove. I don't know if it's because I pushed on through my shin splints yesterday or what. I hit the road US 7 just before noon and spent some time at a fruit stand 0.2 of a mile eating ice-cream and fruit. I then did about 9 miles in the afternoon and stopped at 5:00. It's still hikeable till 8:00, but I am still not in a zone. 14 miles isn't too bad for not being in a zone. I also received a little trail magic today. There was a cooler with some goodies in it. Evidently it was from a thru-hiker that had to get off the trail for medical reasons. I am hoping to get an early start tomorrow and do some serious miles. |